Introverted university student Mako Kawai has a hobby of watching food videos and cooking what she learns from them. She is now a far cry from her energetic self back in elementary school—due to her growing social anxiety, she fears trying new things, such as going to restaurants alone or even making friends.
Enter Shinon Ogawa, one of Mako's childhood friends with whom she reunites in college. Still as extroverted as ever, Shinon quickly adopts Mako into her friend group, which includes the easygoing Tsutsuji Higa and the level-headed Kurea Furutachi. Together, they are planning to start a Food Culture Research Club and invite Mako to join as their fourth member. Though she initially declines, Mako soon realizes that this is her chance to finally brighten up her days, enjoy life surrounded by friends, and eat delicious food with everyone!
[Written by MAL Rewrite]
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KANLen09
Food for the Soul — Food, glorious food, all spent in a day's worth of good company and enthusiastic spirits. As humans, we crave attention for anything that we have our eyes on for interest, and this seemingly simple craving leads to adventures that we wouldn't have otherwise encountered, making new friends and sinking in the pleasure of the seemingly normal-looking people who are just like you and me. It's even all the better when this becomes a community bonded together just to do all things related to food, because as the saying goes, "The way to a man's heart is through his stomach," though inthis context you could swap the gender, and it would've worked either way. This is Hibi wa Sugiredo Meshi Umashi a.k.a Food for the Soul, part of the "Aniplex CGDCT Saturdays" lineup this Spring season airing alongside studio Soigne's adaptation of Yuru Camp mangaka afro's mono, courtesy of the King of Originals studio P.A. Works and created by mangaka Atto, the author of Non Non Biyori.
One question to bring you back to your schooling days: Have you ever had that one classmate who looks and sounds awkward, almost to the point that nobody wants to have any affiliations with him/her, until someone pokes around and learns that the person's more than just his/her appearance alone? If so, then Mako Kawai would be that girl in question. The 1st-year college student, who starts out being the obvious outlier looking for people who align with her interest, mainly one of cooking, because the skill and work have been her bread and butter in her growing-up years, from working part-time nightly shifts at an inarizushi bar to being influenced by people like Mokotaro, whoseYouTube channel features food. By chance, meeting yet another group of people who also have that same interest and want to create a food research club centred around food itself, Mako sees her childhood friend Shinon Ogawa and the calling of their old nicknames of Makocchi and Oshinko, like they ever knew they would bump into each other one day. Coincidentally, with Shinon's idea of a food research club, she sees its initial members of Kurea Furutachi and Tsutsuji Higa alongside her trying to find their 4th member to officially start the club itself, and with Mako's inclusion, she makes the dream a reality...to slack off all she wants. And little do they know that the Food Culture Research Club that's formed around the young ladies, its stature begins to form and bring both the club and its members to new heights exploring food and the like.
If you're thinking that the above sounds similar to Non Non Biyori, it should actually be, as it's a similar premise to how Hotaru Ichijo bands with Renge Miyauchi and the rest of the people that surround the countryside village of Asahigaoka. With this in mind, I love cozy comfort and serenity, so despite having not watched the aforementioned series and only seen snippets for that matter, the thought of this show being the spiritual successor to Non Non Biyori actually fits the narrative so well and shows off the flair that mangaka Atto has not lost for quite some time.
Since this is a slice-of-life show that deviates away from the comedic Iyashikei vibes of the former series, sometimes, being simple is how you'll get far into the things that you love. This is pretty much so for Mako's case, where she is very enthusiastic when it comes to food and its creation, and her expertise will help leverage the Food Culture Research Club in its identity. Even then, to get the actual food out, there's Kurea to help out even more, because her family runs a local restaurant (that Mako only knows of her affiliation thereafter), and she is the better cook, while also being the purposeful, level-headed, and responsible girl of the group alongside Shinon...which she's quite the opposite of, featuring her lackadaisical feeling once the club gets going, but forced to make decisions after she and Kurea were appointed as leaders of the club. On the other hand, there's the shortest member of the club, Tsutsuji herself, though you'll always see her in sheep-like clothing and memorabilia (which gives her the nickname of Hitsuji (literally meaning sheep in Japanese)), and she always gives off the vibe that she's even lazier than Shinon herself. However, with the inclusion of the club's 5th member, Nana Hoshi, the shy girl who is a friend of Tsutsuji's, truly has a phobia of being around strangers but thrives in the company of friends and is a whiz at puzzles that Mako can instantly open up to her. It's quite the friendship bond amidst people who know each other separately but come together to achieve the same goal and just enjoy each other's presence together. For sure, the time spent with these 5 girls (plus other characters) never feels old.
You know you're getting a quality show when it is animated by P.A. Works, because the studio's modus operandi has always been about creating quality originals that stick with you for the long run, even after those shows have ended their period of time, and HibiMeshi is no different in that sense. Due to the collaboration with Aniplex producing the anime, the glow-ups are noticeable, and the fine, crisp quality of a P.A. Works show is amped by the budget that it brings to good effect. Also, having director Shinya Kawatsura here, knowing his expertise as the series' director of Non Non Biyori in general, alongside coaching the relatively new director of Yu Harumi, makes it twice as good to lock in the Iyashikei vibes rather well.
The triple whammy of making HibiMeshi the true successor to Non Non Biyori, adds music composer Hitomi Mizutani to the mix, who, like director Shinya Kawatsura, has been on the aforementioned series's staff team since its creation into adaptation. If vibes just won't do it for you, then the OST will surely invoke much of that feeling. Even trickling down to asmi's OP and Reira Ushio's ED, which are both fine and decent songs that help support the anime's slice-of-life emotions.
What can I say, really? Of all the CGDCT shows this Spring season, alongside mono and ZatsuTabi —That's Journey—Hibi wa Sugiredo Meshi Umashi a.k.a Food for the Soul, is the anime that ends up being the best CGDCT show of the 3, one that caters to the adults being the grown-up version of Non Non Biyori. If the stacked staff team isn't enough to impress you into a gourmet prep of a food adventure, then I honestly don't know what will.
All CGDCT fans, don't miss HibiMeshi, for it's the Chicken Soup for the Soul, made by talented people, for the Healing of the soul.
Marinate1016
In a season stacked with amazing CGDCT slice of life series, Hibimeshi is actually at the top of my list and is probably my fave PA works original, maybe ever. I really loved this cast and how cozy a watch this was. The cute art style, the girls’ friendship, the FOOD, this was a very pleasant viewing experience that just helped me wind down every Saturday. PLUS, it’s an adult cast! We don’t get a ton of em, so you know when they come around I have to praise them. For the most part, the girls actually act like adults too which is a bigplus. This is a must watch for any Iyashikei fan.
Hibimeshi and Mono airing back to back on Saturdays was such a crazy experience. Literally two of my fave slice of life casts ever and you get a double helping of them on a weekly basis. Both are amazing shows, but I liked Hibimeshi a bit more because of the college setting and how much I fell in love with this cast. That’s not to knock Mono’s girls at all, I loved them too, but the main cast is slightly bigger here and felt more varied. I also just thought they were so silly and there’s this ‘loveable idiots’ sort of energy going on in every episode. Always fun watching a gang of cute girl failures come together, start a club and just enjoy each other’s company. Mako in particular is so relatable as she’s sort of socially isolated herself since she was a kid and now she finally has people she can be herself around and cook for! It’s a simple premise, but one that resonates with me because and I think I can speak for everyone here, the older we get the harder it is to make friends. Your old friends from high school drift apart from you and you often realize you were only together because you saw each other every day. When you get to college, it’s your opportunity to make genuine friends, people you’re around because you have similar interests, passions or mindsets instead of just similar class schedules. I’m just a sucker for seeing characters come out of their shells and find their niche, their special place to belong.
I’m also a sucker for good food and man I love how it looks in here. Seeing the girls prepare so many delicious dishes was a treat and encouraged me to go out and try a few of them. Enjoyed the meal prep process a lot and the looks on the girls’ faces when they were eating a great meal made with love! They say food tastes better when you’re surrounded by people you love and this show is that personified. It’s such a warm and comfortable feeling you get when watching this show and it’s all thanks to this cast. I mean literally this group of girls could make anything seem fun. There’s an episode where they basically just drive to a grocery store to shop for dinner, and the episode still manages to go by in a flash because of the comedy of one of the characters just getting their license and not being comfortable on freeways, as well as the general comedic aspects of the story. There’s never a dull moment here and I appreciate it! The best slice of life casts can make something out of nothing and they do that well here.
The show looks gorgeous. PA works have been on a roll since Aquatope, just pumping out great looking anime originals with great casts and this is no exception. The art is beautiful, the character designs are excellent and the voice acting is good as well. No complaints with the production here.
If you’re a foodie or just want another healing anime to add to the list, I can’t recommend this one enough. It was one of the highlights of my week and hopefully it’ll have the same impact on you!
Hibimeshi gets 9 out of 10
SanaeK10
I was pretty gutted when Non Non Biyori ended. It was a stunningly relaxing show that really knew how to take its time, not rush through scenes, and just let the moment take over for an extended period. No other show could quite replicate its unique blend of comfy and comedy. That is, until I discovered HibiMeshi, made by many of the same people (Atto included), airing this season, which is very much a spiritual successor to Non Non Biyori. Even the character archetypes are largely similar, just all aged up to be university students, and taking place in Hachioji as opposed to some rural backwater.Ren-chon, Hotarun, and especially Nattsun are all back, alongside a Mama-type tsukkomi and some unholy amalgamation of Bocchi and Kita (Ironically Bocchi's seiyuu is voicing the Nattsun analogue here). While the character archetypes aren't anything novel, the show still does a masterful job of depicting their day-to-day lives. Oshinko is especially a highlight, being an obnoxious genki aho that somehow manages to keep the whole gang together. Being in university as opposed to high school does open up a lot more avenues that other shows normally do not explore, like panicking in your first highway drive, or the concept of meeting up with old friends you once went to school with.
Of course, as with most CGDCT shows, the primary gimmick is just a vehicle to explore the character personalities and interactions with each other. And, unlike with Mono, the show never really abandons its primary gimmick to focus on other things. It does commit to being about food, and there is no compromise with depicting how good the food looks. The comedy is top notch too. Atto's signature "awkward moments punctuated by long uncomfortable silence" returns, and the writing is as sharp as ever with punchlines catching me out of nowhere at times. It's very Non Non Biyori, which is a very good thing.
But to me, the best part of the show is simply how relaxing it is. Turn off the lights when you watch the show. The soothing music paired with the gentle visuals make for an excellent viewing experience under the right conditions.
For a show that I only discovered literally on the day it started airing, HibiMeshi has been a complete joy to sit through. While I'm bummed the show is over, the manga adaptation it spawned can hopefully tide me over until it gets renewed for a second season.
9/10
BrotherCoa
Hands down best slice of life anime this season. If you want to watch that one anime that will make your heart feel so warm at the end of hard day or week - this is anime for you. For me it's bonus since MC Mako reminds me a lot of MC Hiiragi from 'The Suffering of a 26 Year Old Unloved Female Doomer' which I also love and root for MC there. Animation and sound: great. The animation is very unique for show and music is quite decent. Watching this show was joy for the eyes, I didn't notice a single scene where I noteda drop in quality. Music while not giving something unique other than OP or ED was decent.
Overall: animation and music are good with artwork that makes this show unique when compared to others.
Characters: this is where this show shines, there are 5 main characters here and it is their interactions that make this show great. It is also refreshing that main characters are university students rather than high school ones, that means while still silly and free spirited they are more mature and can actually drink booze. xD
Mako - MC of the show and prime wife material. She is interested in cooking but is shy and unsure in herself. Over the show she is doing her best in order to overcome her shortcomings. She is adorable and cute, this is what prime wife candidate looks like.
Kurea - she is daughter of a restaurant owner and knows how to cook very good food. She is your dependable onee-chan of the group. I like her very much because of how caring and serious she is when situation demands it. Without her the group would be in all sort of troubles. Mako's new best friend, and one that initially helped her in starting to overcome her shyness. 2nd best character of the show.
Shinon - Mako's friend from middle school and leader of a group. But she is also very carefree and silly, she constantly have new ideas that half of the time get group in trouble. She herself is kind of a clutz but her carefree nature, ability to push others toward goal and silly situations she usually creates make her a best comedian character of the show.
Higa - she is smol, she is cute and she love sheeps. Very laid back character but very cool one. Calm and collected she will always be there to give a helping hand and play some nice music if she cannot assist in any other manner. 2nd best comedian of the show.
Nana - this is a funny one. She has a problem of socializing as in she is scared of people. This only lasts until she gets to know them better. Once that happens she turns into best drinking/hang out buddy you could have wish for. Higa is her best friend and one that introduce her to the group and once she settles up with everyone her charisma and bright personality really helps in carrying the group around.
Overall - characters are all very unique and well written. It is interactions between them and how they hang out during the show is what makes it so great.
Story - there are basically two stories here: 1st is about Mako trying her best to change for the better and the 2nd one is about food research club and their activities. Story itself is quite basic, we have everything except beach episode. But every episode have them making some new food and enjoying it while being at different location every time. What interested me the most here is Mako's character development and in that field I was not disappointed. Shame that other characters remained basically the same but watching them hanging out in various places and joking around is what this show is about and in that regard I was more than satisficed.
Overall grade: 10. Best slice of life show this season and definitely worthy of watch.
I would recommend this show to everyone who wants to watch enjoyable slice of life show with cute girls doing cute things. If you have hard time at work during this week it is perfect to heal your soul for the weekend.
silverszeta
"Good Food is Good for the Soul" If you are looking for a break from intense drama and full packed action anime, Food For The Soul anime is a good choice. This comforting slice-of-life, CGDCT anime offers a delightful twist with its all-adult cast, providing a uniquely relatable perspective on college life. Story : The premise is simple, about our main Mako who want to change a pace in her university life. Mako later meet others characters that let her start enjoy her life in the college. What makes "Food For The Soul" particularly engaging is its portrayal of college student life, which many viewers will findrelatable. It's a grounded and charming exploration of friendship and pursuing new passions. (8.5/10)
Animation : While the animation may not reach to the level of Makeine, Yuru Camp or Violet Evergarden, it's certainly a good for a slice-of-life anime. It successfully captures the warm, everyday vibe of the club's daily activities and the characters' interactions. The visuals effectively convey the comforting atmosphere, making it easy to settle in and enjoy their world. (8.25/10)
Music : Song for opening and ending is one of good parts of this anime. Really GOOD especially the ending song that shows Mako and friends enjoyment. It's the kind of music that lingers long after the episode ends, leaving you with a warm feeling. (9/10)
Characters : "Food For The Soul" truly shines through its fun, unique, and incredibly lovable characters. They bring vibrant energy to the series, infusing every scene with charm and humor. Their interactions are a constant source of smiles and genuine laughter, making their antics a core part of the anime's appeal. Each character contributes distinct colors to the group dynamic, making their bond feel authentic and heartwarming. (9/10)
Food For The Soul is recommended to Slice of Life enthusiasts and I am really glad that Spring 2025 have some good Slice of Life anime. 8.75/10.
ncl9226
I love this show It's a light-hearted slice-of-life about a bunch of college girls doing silly things and making fun memories together (and lots of cooking!), think of it as K-ON! but instead of making music, they just fool around and cook food. Animation is consistently great, with detailed backgrounds and buildings (reminds me of Bocchi the Rock!), and is overall pleasing to the eyes. The music complements the light-hearted atmosphere of the scenes. What I like best about the show is that it doesn't try too hard to be funny with overused jokes, nor is the show too serious, it's just fun to watch overall. There isno reason not to recommend the show, so I recommend it to anyone who has the time to watch it.
Trospher
Food for the Soul is a fantastic food oriented SoL CGDCT that is consistent from start to finish, coming from the makers, director, and other staff of Non Non Biyori this anime original is strikingly similar in feel while also not a straight carbon copy of it. The anime while food themed has amazing scenes of daily live of the very lively main characters plus notable characters, taking place around a college it does have some episodes that only college students/adults can do which is a very refreshing change of pace of the usual high schoolers when it comes to these types of anime. Speaking of thecharacters, while I did say the anime is not a straight carbon copy of NNB, some of the characters do feel like they're heavily inspired from NNB such as Tsutsuji and Shinon that resembles Renge and Natsume respectively with Mako almost mirroring Hotaru, even with that all the characters have shining personalities of their own and fun to follow with.
The overall art of the anime also looks fantastic, the character designs are distinct and cute while the food....they put a LOT of effort to making them look delicious while not looking like outlines of a cooking video whether its a cutlet, stew, or rice it looks very good and you can relate to the characters enjoying them because the food simply looks mouthwatering.
The anime is a great comfort watch while still being highly entertaining, I had high hopes knowing who was behind the show and it still delivered higher than expected. It's clear that this was made with love and passion from the staff and cast delivering a very well made show, and while I am realistic about an original anime that isn't too mainstream getting a sequel, I still hope this one gets a sequel because the anime is special.
In short, I'd classify this as an Iyashikei with how similar paced it is to NNB that has fantastic display of food and how they are cooked plus the typical showcase of SoL that is entertaining, I'm giving this one a solid 9.2/10.
GT3_gamer
This! This is my kind of anime, I would love to watch more of. Man, what a journey this is. I decided to wait for the whole thing to finish airing and binge-watch it because I can't just wait a week to see them do things, that's too much. Just saying, if you love your life, this can heal you from depression. It's that good. How did I find this? YouTube. Through random music autoplay. I heard the opening and immediately fell in love. Then I went and checked if the anime had aired. They were, but it's on that season. So, I had to wait it out before Iwatched it. Lol
Appealing (Why did I get into the anime?)
Just the premise alone already makes me want to watch this. I'm a sucker for Slice of Life genre, so this is a perfect anime for me.
Platform
It's available on Crunchyroll only. So, you know what that means for me. Yeeeer!
The review;
Plot/Story
Nothing. Just the daily life of five college students eating.
No, seriously, this is just one of those anime that you don't need to have to use your brain to understand the plot. That's why it's so good. You can easily watch this with your family.
Character
Man, I just love them all, even the side characters. And you know what's insane, the author behind the story was so good at making them so relatable. The characters aren't just one layer; it's like real life. That's the beauty of this type of anime; it shares similarities with real-life activity, and I love it.
OST/SFX
Top tier. Two thumbs up for me.
The OP and ED are so good. I sang along with the OP and banged my head to the ED.
Animation
PA Works normally has a good animation, and this anime does as well. I just love how their expression, the way they move, and it shows how PA Works cares about their IPs.
VA
Two thumbs up. I would give more if I had more.
The conclusion;
The good
I am so happy I can watch this anime. It's literally my kind of show.
The bad
They have a manga as well, so I, once again, had to postpone a lot of anime and manga just to have time and space for reading this manga. Lol
Overall, 8.3/10
Enjoyable with family or friends.
chelonia64
Anime Review: Food for the Soul Introduction Food for the Soul is an anime that will make you feel uplifted, nostalgic, and surprisingly hungry not for extravagant feasts, but for the simple meals tied to memories and connection. It’s a wholesome slice-of-life series that shows how respect, kindness, and shared moments can shape relationships. In a world where genuine respect can sometimes feel rare, this anime reminds us that it is still possible. Basic Info • Genre: Slice of Life, Drama, Healing, Food Anime • Episodes: 12 • Tone: Wholesome, heartwarming, and refreshing•Best For: Fans of slice-of-life, drama, healing anime, food-centered stories, and those who enjoy “cute girls doing cute stuff.”
Plot Overview
The story follows a group of college students who originally created a club just for hanging out. However, when the university required them to conduct activities or risk disbandment, the club was forced to become more than just a “front.”
Shinon and Korea, two of the original members, stumble upon Mako-chan, Shinon’s former classmate, eating her bento lunch. With their club short of the required four members, Shinon invites Mako-chan to join. At first, it seems like a casual recruitment just to keep their club alive. But for Mako-chan, who spent most of her school years as a loner, this chance encounter becomes life-changing.
What begins as a random club slowly turns into a safe space filled with food, friendship, and heartfelt memories. Together, the members learn, grow, and share experiences that make their college lives unforgettable.
Themes & Messages
At its core, Food for the Soul is about the joy of friendship and the memories we create with others. It beautifully captures how simple meals and shared moments can bring people closer. For viewers, it’s a reminder that genuine friendships exist and that they can make life happier and easier.
For someone like me, who deeply values food, connection, and creating lasting memories, this anime hit close to home. It also resonates with real-life experiences especially for those of us who went through college, searching for clubs or organizations that could make our lives a little brighter. I personally wished I had joined something like this, because belonging to a group that truly values your presence is a gift you carry with you for life.
Characters
The characters are instantly likable not just because of their cute designs and good fashion sense, but also because of how they treat each other with respect and warmth. Even when they seem overbearing, they know how to give space.
Mako-chan’s growth is especially inspiring. From being someone who spent years alone, she blossoms into a friend who contributes her skills and finds joy in shared experiences. Watching her transformation is one of the anime’s most rewarding aspects.
Visuals & Animation
The art style is both cute and aesthetically pleasing, making it a joy to watch. As someone who has dabbled in content creation, I found the visuals inspiring and healing. The food isn’t portrayed in an overly elegant way, but it doesn’t need to be, the emotional context behind each dish makes it meaningful.
Music & Soundtrack
The opening and ending themes are soothing and memorable songs that I’d happily add to my personal playlist. The soundtrack complements the anime’s wholesome tone perfectly, amplifying the healing atmosphere.
Personal Impact
Food for the Soul reminded me of the importance of cherishing memories and fostering deeper connections with people. It’s a gentle nudge to keep living life meaningfully, creating bonds, and savoring even the simplest of moments. So this anime is recommended to watch on an ordinary but pleasing day. ☺️
yasyaa
Food for the Soul is seriously the cutest anime ever, i'm totally in love with it 💗 It’s peaceful and there’s literally no heavy conflict at all. It just feels like pure healing from first episode to last episode. The whole show is about cooking, traveling, and friendship. Nothing more, nothing less, and it’s perfect that way. One thing i really appreciate is that there aren’t too many new characters popping up all the time. It lets you really focus on the main cast and enjoy their moments together without constantly adjusting to new faces. That makes it feel so cozy. Also, let’s talk aboutthe food, it looks so good! Everything they cook is not only delicious looking, but also super aesthetic 😣🧡 The way it’s animated is soft and warm, and it honestly made me wish i could eat through the screen. I’d say this anime is a 10/10 for sure. It’s the kind of show i’d recommend especially to girls who just want to relax and feel good. No drama, no stress, just beautiful food, calming vibes, and sweet friendships. Trust me, if you’re looking for comfort anime, this one is a must watch, mako!
kiner_shah
I loved watching this anime. If you are tired and just want to relax, this is one of the perfect anime for that. Really, liked the character design. All are cute, gentle, kind girls and have different personalities. Bringing them together really makes the anime a lot fun to watch. I literally had a smile on my face watching it. The background music is quite relaxing, the opening and ending songs are nice and show a happy mood, perfect for relaxing. The anime also highlights many parts of Japanese culture through food, habits and activities. I will recommend this anime to anyone who likes watching cozy, slice-of-life anime. Reallynice, can also watch with family I think.
josephsl
This was a great watch and is everything I want from a CGDCT anime. It was consistently funny, very wholesome, and mildly educational. While I learned some about food culture I learned even more about university "circles" and what it's like to have that more laid-back club experience. Plus it was entertaining the whole way through. Essentially it's cute girls goofing off, going places, and making food. A lot like Laid Back Camp. And while I won't claim it stands on its own quite as well as that legendary show, I really appreciated everything that went into this one. The writing from the Non Non Biyoriauthor surely contributed to making the humor land. And I appreciated that it focused on a university group rather than a high school club, which is somewhat fresh and maybe more relatable for some. It feels like it shares some DNA with PA Works' other young adult focused shows like Shirobako and Sakura Quest. That maturity went into the characters too--while they maybe aren't the most iconic ones around, I appreciated the effort to approach them with some groundedness to make them a bit more than just one-note characters.
Overall I'd recommend this to anyone who wants something fun and chill, and isn't offended by having to look at occasional good-looking anime food.
Sidarif
Food for the Soul is an anime that, despite its title, felt more like a slice-of-life series than one fully focused on food. While food does play a part in the story, it mostly serves as a backdrop for the characters' daily lives and interactions rather than being the main theme. That said, some of the dishes shown in this anime looked absolutely delicious! A few scenes really made me crave the food, and the animation around those moments was definitely a highlight. The attention to detail in the food scenes was impressive, even if they weren’t the central focus. One of the most enjoyable parts ofthis anime was watching Tsutsuji-san. Their character added charm and humor, making the story more fun and lighthearted.
Overall, this was a good anime to relax and unwind with. It’s fun, heartwarming in parts, and visually pleasing, but for me, it’s more of a one-time watch. Recommended if you like calm, slice-of-life stories with a bit of food sprinkled in!
Acryllcs
What a hidden gem of an anime if you ask me. Honestly, the fact that this is a food anime on top of a slice of life is a bonus. Would definitely like this anime to get a season two. Pros: [] The storytelling is amazing. - From the characters to the plot, it's all so well written (except for one part). The character development for all the girls is great and feels like real-life character development between college students. Their dynamics with each other are spectacular. Made me laugh way more than I thought I would. [] The animation is great - P.A. Works did a wonderful jobwith the animation, between the food, the cooking, etc...
Complaint:
[] Parts of the story could use some rework.
- Very small complaint, and it could just be my opinion, but I think somewhere halfway through the story loses me for a bit. Maybe it's just the story at that certain point, or maybe I just need to rewatch it. Without getting into spoiler territory, it kind of feels messy. Maybe another line or two, or a little clean-up here and there, could make all the difference. Still a very good anime nonetheless.
patkarunungan
'Food for the Soul' is a nice slice-of-life anime. One could argue that it's the best CGDCT in the Spring 2025 Season. § Overview Kawai Mako, an introvert, loves cooking food. She is a loner. That changes when she reconnects with her childhood friend Ogawa Shinon, who invited her to form the Food Culture Research Club § Notes 1. Coming from their disastrous Narenare: Cheer for You, P.A. Works has come out with one of the best anime you can relax on that's centred on eating food. While Cheer for You has this weird æsthetic of having weird neon-like colours, Food for the Soul is relatively normal andeven pleasing to the eyes.
Just as food preparation can and does enhance your experience of eating food (it can ruin it if the food looks ugly), the same could be said of the colour choices in the visual medium: the characters' hair colour and how the food looks vibrant and pleasing to one's eyes.
The colours in the key visual and the series title card consist of green and orange, which point to vegetation and the sense of being alive.
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“Food is our common ground, a universal experience.” — James Beard, an American chef and cookbook author
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2. Characters
Food for the Soul has somewhat believable characters. It's about how their relationship grows in the series.
Kawai Mako is our main girl, and she cooks the food for the Food Culture Research Club. Whilst she had friends in elementary school, she was a loner in high school. This streak of being a loner would have continued in college had she not connected with her childhood friend Shinon.
Ogawa Shinon actually proposed to create the club just so they would have a dedicated club room to hang out with her friends. She is so impulsive. She doesn't even know how to create delicious food. Recruiting Mako to join the club gave it a semblance of seriousness.
Despite these faults, Shinon is a social connector. She can persuade people to do things, which is why she is able to borrow so much.
Higa Tsutsuji loves her sheep dress. She has some humour based on observation. She reminds me of the class representative types in early 2000 anime. Tsutsuji is pretty close to Nana and has known her for far longer. She lightens up the mood of the group.
Furutachi Kurea's family owns a restaurant that sells sauced katsudon. It is thanks to Kurea that Mako joined the Food Culture Research Club. She encouraged Mako to come out of her shell.
Kurea seems to be the big sister figure of the club and prevents it from being too unhinged.
Shinon then eventually works at Kurea's restaurant, where Shinon's sociability shines.
Hoshi Nana has seemingly two personalities. She has far worse social anxiety than Mako has. She is tongue-tied when talking to strangers, which is why her seiyuu, Aizawa Saya, got some practice here before her role of Monica in Secrets of the Silent Witch. But once she has rapport with you, she acts as the typical gyaru.
At first, she comes across as rude to Mako. But it was her extreme social anxiety at work. She actually wants to befriend Mako. Once the initial hurdles are overcome, they bond by helping each other in their German class.
The growth of their relationships is the point of this anime.
3. Unlike a certain inferior competitor, this anime has a unifying motif: the activity of cooking and eating food. It's the alpha and omega, and that's why some episodes can involve random stuff but don't end up feeling disjointed. Sometimes they travel to a certain location, and it doesn't feel like an inferior version of Zatsu Tabi. In one way or another, you will see them eating food.
K-On! works well for most people because of the musickal theme, despite them actually slacking off with practice most of the time. The girls of K-On! are unforgettable due to their characterisation, and that's coming from someone who dislikes K-On! and rated it so low. The same can be said of Food for the Soul to an extent.
P.A. Works' previous CGDCT, Cheer for You, has cheerleading as the unifying theme. It didn't work, though, because the character arcs are uneven, leaving some characters developed and some barely developed. It felt like an ensemble that needs at least two cours to give proper character development. Their relationship is fine, but could have been better. Furthermore, it would have worked really well if the cheerleading aspect were about different schools in a cheerleading competition.
If P. A. Works fumbled with Cheer for You, it has recovered big with Food for the Soul.
4. The OP and ED are a nice listen and go hard on the food aspects. The OP talks about going hungry, while the ED talks about the tasty miso soup. Both offer a sense of warmth and positive vibes.
5. The Japanese title is 日々は過ぎれど飯うまし (Hibi wa Sugiredo Meshi Umashi), which literally means 'Days pass but the food is delicious.' One could take this to mean literally that food is constant despite the changes associated with the passing of time. But such subjective experience depends on one's attitude towards food, and that's where the English title, Food for the Soul, becomes poetick.
We always see delicious food, but the literal food is only food for the body. What's only seen indirectly through the interactions of the characters is the real Food for the Soul, namely friendship.
An interesting side note is that the term Epicurean has a popular and vulgar meaning that's far from its philosophical roots. It's being 'eating and drinking because tomorrow you die' — a strawman made by St Paul.
The truth is that Epicurean philosophy is about maximising pleasure and minimising pain, and one of the greatest of these pleasures is friendship.
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"Of all things that wisdom provides for living one's entire life in happiness, the greatest by far is the possession of friendship."
— Epicurus in Principal Doctrines no 27
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This is also mentioned by Aristotle: "For without friends no one would choose to live, though he had all other goods..." in Book VIII of The Nicomachean Ethics.
§ Conclusion
'Food for the Soul' is not just a nice iyashikei/CGT that one can watch at the end of a stressful day. It reaffirms friendship as one of the greatest pleasures ever, and that's the real Food for the Soul.
NOTA BENE: A grade of 7 out of 10 means that I find this anime is very good and two notches above average. I enjoyed watching it.
It is a high score because it is two notches above average. It's not mid or average unlike the misconception of some people in this site.
My enjoyment spectrum lies from 4 to 10. If I have scored an anime below 4, I actively dislike it.
Salvatierra21
Being a real-life story with a food theme, I can say I like the idea, especially because the characters are college students, which offers many possibilities for topics to discuss in the food club. The plot twist, given that its members are not experts in the subject, offers some fun moments. However, the dubbing by mangakas Atto, creator of Non Non Biyori, who is in charge of the story, and Quro, creator of Koisuru Asteroid, who is in charge of the art, fell short. They simply followed their own pace, unsure of how to handle the story with adult characters, since most of the timenothing interesting happens, not even with the food theme the series is supposed to be based on. And they also didn't know how to design adult characters, since the girls can easily change the plot to something secondary without the change being noticeable. I hope this project will teach them that when someone wants to step out of their comfort zone, they should thoroughly research the topics they want to develop.
For his part, P.A. Studio Works continues to prove that with its excellent animation and technical expertise, it can elevate any manga and attract audiences.
Here are more food-themed anime: Oishinbo, Meng Qi Shi Shen, and Shin Chuuka Ichiban!
